the chart shows an absolute surge? Are you we looking at the same chart? also, if we are thinking from first principles here... there's no way to actually count that... Maybe you can give a sample area, and go around counting that specific area? and just do that for every major city? still pretty shaky data at best... so in this case i think anecdotal evidence is better evidence. There is obviously WAY, WAY, WAY more homeless, and they are WAY, WAY, WAY more cracked out.

From my perspective all that chart shows is that it’s been pervasive issue for at least the last 2 decades. I don’t think that homelessness is any more or less visible now than it has been, at least in my lifetime.

It's certainly more visible in west coast cities where the homeless are moving to get services(and less winter).

from your source above:

>New Hampshire saw the highest increase in the number of homeless people.